Sunday, February 24, 2013

Don't Miss Alison Fraser in "A Tennessee Williams Songbook"

By Byrne HarrisonPhoto by Josh Andrus

One of the highlights of the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival (and there were many) was getting to hear the exceptionally talented Alison Fraser in "A Tennessee Williams Songbook," a 90-minute concert featuring songs Williams chose for his plays, which capped the long weekend of Williams and Williams-inspired plays.Alison Fraser discussed the "Songbook" in an interview with StageBuzz.com contributor Rob Hartmann shortly after it premiered in Columbus, Miss., and said " it went over like gangbusters." After having seen the show, I understand why. Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival curator David Kaplan has created an exciting and emotional evening of song which Fraser brings to life with passion and grace. Featuring songs like "It’s Only a Paper Moon" (from A Streetcar Named Desire), "The Party’s Over Now," "If I Didn't Care," "My Blue Heaven," and "St. Louis Woman," the evening deals with love and loss, loneliness and passion--all of it using songs that affected Williams enough for him to use them in his work."A Tennessee Williams Songbook" is coming to New York for a one-night only performance tomorrow, February 25th at8 pm at Five Angels Theater, located at 789 Tenth Avenue (between 52nd and 53rd Streets). Tickets are available online and all proceeds will benefit the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival.
If you are unable to make tomorrow night's performance, you'll have another chance to see "A Tennessee Williams Songbook" at theTennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festivalbeginning March 20th, where it will run for three performances.

Alison Fraser was nominated for Tony Awards for The Secret Garden and Romance/Romance. She has appeared in concert at Carnegie Hall, The White House, The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, The Tisch Center for the Arts, The Folger Shakespeare Library, Joe's Pub and Symphony Space.

Allison Leyton Brown performs live at the upscale Feinstein's, the legendary Birdland, and many other venues. She plays keyboards and organs regularly with the New Orleans-inspired band Smith & 9th Ward, The Outer Borough Brass Band, New York’s Finest Jazz Band, and fronts the trio House of Stride.

The Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival is the country’s largest performing arts festival dedicated to America’s great playwright. It takes place in various venues throughout the seaside village of Provincetown. This year’s theme of Tennessee Williams and Women: 50% Illusion takes place Sept 26 – 29. Theater artists from around the globe come together to perform classic and innovative productions celebrating the enduring influence of Tennessee Williams in the 21st Century. Visit www.twptown.org for more information.